Authored by : Urvashi Musale  – M.A. Applied Psychology Stanford Certified
Reviewed by : Dr. Rajshekhar Gandhi – M.D (Mum) ; D.P.B


The Negative Impact of Social Media on Teen Self-Esteem

In today’s digital age, social media has become an integral part of teenagers’ lives. While it offers many benefits, such as staying connected with friends and discovering new interests, it also has a darker side that can significantly impact teens’ self-esteem. We get an idea about how much social media has taken over our teen’s lives from a poll of 13–17-year-olds conducted in 2022. According to the survey, which received around 1,300 responses, 35% of teenagers use at least one of the five social media sites more than a few times a day

The Illusion of Perfection

One of the primary ways social media affects teens is by promoting an idealized and often unattainable standard of beauty and lifestyle. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with images of seemingly perfect lives, flawless appearances, and ideal bodies. Constant exposure to these images can lead teens to develop unrealistic expectations about their own appearance and life achievements. This comparison can result in feelings of inadequacy, lowered self-esteem, and even body dysmorphia.

Seeking Validation and Social Approval

Social media has also fuelled the need for validation and social approval among teens. The number of likes, comments, and followers has become a measure of self-worth, amplifying the pressure to present an idealized version of oneself online. This desire for external validation can lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as excessive self-promotion, seeking attention through provocative images or posts, and even engaging in online bullying or negative comparisons to others.

Cyberbullying and Negative Feedback Loops

Social media platforms can provide grounds for cyberbullying and negative feedback loops, which can have devastating consequences for teens’ self-esteem. Unlike face-to-face interactions, online platforms enable anonymity and distance, emboldening individuals to engage in hurtful behavior. Negative comments, cyberbullying, and online harassment can lead to feelings of worthlessness, depression, and anxiety. The constant exposure to such negativity can create a toxic cycle, further exacerbating teens’ mental well-being.

Comparison and Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Teens today are bombarded with constant updates on the lives of their peers through social media. The fear of missing out (FOMO) can intensify when scrolling through posts about parties, travel, achievements, or milestones. This constant comparison can lead to feelings of exclusion and inadequacy, further damaging self-esteem.

Research Findings

Growing research over the past ten years has shown that social media use among teenagers may have detrimental effects. A study of American teenagers aged 12 to 15 found that those who used social media for more than three hours a day were twice as likely to experience mental health problems, such as signs of anxiety and depression.

Peer acceptance is crucial for teenagers, often feeling as critical as a politician’s campaign. With social media, kids today get real-time feedback on their likability through “likes” and comments, which can be overwhelming. Naturally, they want to look as cool as possible, leading them to spend hours crafting their online personas. Girls may sift through countless photos, stressing over which one to post, while boys often push boundaries to gain attention. This environment can quickly become toxic, with kids ganging up on each other.

Historically, teens have always sought acceptance, but social media amplifies these pressures by providing more opportunities and pitfalls. Scrolling through feeds filled with perfect images can intensify the pressure to measure up. We used to worry about the unrealistic standards set by photoshopped models in magazines, but now even the kids next door might present an idealized, edited version of themselves. This discrepancy between real and online selves can be particularly disorienting.

During adolescence and early adulthood, individuals are highly aware of the gap between their outward appearance and their true self, similar to the psychological concept of “imposter syndrome.” As people gain experience, they often feel this gap narrow. However, the constant need to maintain a perfect image can be exhausting and damaging.

Dr. Steiner-Adair adds that self-esteem is built by integrating your true self. The more personas you adopt and the more time you spend pretending to be someone you’re not, the harder it becomes to feel genuinely good about yourself.

According to the advisory, additional research “point to a higher relative concern of harm in adolescent girls and those already experiencing poor mental health, as well as for particular health outcomes, such as cyberbullying-related depression, body image and disordered eating behaviours, and poor sleep quality linked to social media use.”

Extreme, improper, and dangerous content is readily available to teenagers. Social media posts about suicide and self-harm, including “cutting,” partial asphyxiation, and risk-taking difficulties, have occasionally been connected to deaths. Additionally, research has shown that displaying or talking about this material helps normalize these actions.

Another issue is eating disorders. According to a PLOS Global Public Health assessment of 50 studies conducted in 17 different countries between 2016 and 2021, constant exposure to mainly unachievable physical ideals online can lead to eating disorders and a skewed sense of self.

Conclusion

While social media can be a valuable tool for staying connected and discovering new interests, parents and teens need to be aware of its potential negative effects on self-esteem. Encouraging open communication, setting healthy boundaries, and promoting offline activities can help mitigate these impacts. By fostering a balanced approach to social media use, teens can enjoy its benefits without compromising their mental well-being.